Band-affixing mechanism.



F. O. WOODLAND.

BAND AFFIXING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. Is; 1914.

Patentedluly 6,1915. 2 SHEETSSHEETI F. O. WOODLAND.

BAND AFFIXING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patentad July 6, 1915.

i i tam F FRANK 0. WOODLAND, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BAND-AFFIXING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented duly t8, 1191M.

Application filed February 13, 1914. Serial No. 818,578.

To all 2071 0m it may concern."

Be it known that I, FRANK O. WOODLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State iof Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Band-Afiixing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being made therein to the accompanying drawings.

My present invention relates to a novel construction and combination for that part of a banding machine whereby the bands are clasped or lapped about the cigar or article; the prime object being to provide a means whereby unattached bands can be laid with greater efficiency and more closely and uniformly applied to small size, soft rolled, or unevenly formed cigars, as well as to better classes and qualities of cigars.

Another object is to provide a band-lapping device comprising a lapper-blade and a yieldingly tensioned thread, cord or flexible member arranged for acting in conjunction therewith to prevent any backslipping of the band, as more fully hereinafter explained.

The invention herein set forth is more especially designed to be applied to cigarbanding machines of the kind illustrated and described in Letters Patent, Number 1,089,354, in which the general construction and operation of the banding machine is explained. The present illustration and description is therefore confined to the special improvements and its combination with other portions of a cigar-bandin machine, which will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of such parts of a band-affixing mechanism as will illustrate the nature of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of my invention, showing the la g per devices in the act of laying the band a out the cigar; the undertucking lapper being approximately at the position where its carrier commences its circular movement about the axis of the cigar. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts at the positions relatively assumed thereby when the undertucking lapper is approximately at the limit of its forward movements and ready to commence its retractive action. Fig. 4 is a side view showing the relation of lappers, their carriers and the cigar supporting rest. Fig. 5 is a back View of the improved lapper-blade. Fig. 6 1s a top view of the lapper head and end of its carrier arm. Fig. 7 is a similar back View of the improved lapper provided with a sheave mounted therein. Fig. 8 is a section view of the same at line X X. Fig. 9 represents a modification wherein the guide way for the cord is furnished with backwardly projecting horns. Fig. 10 is a section view of the same at line Y Y. Fig. 11 shows a modification wherein the guideway is formed as an eye or hole for the cord, and Fig. 12 a modification in the manner of connecting the cord.

In some of the drawings there are indicated certain parts of a cigar-banding machine such as I have heretofore embraced in applications for Letters Patent; said parts being here introduced for affording a clearer understanding of the general relation, combination and operation therewith of the improved means, which js the particular sub- -ject matter of the present application.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the frame, E an overhead bar or arm supporting the band-supply holder H in which the pack of bands B is arranged for bottom delivery therefrom; C the cigar or article to which the band is to be applied, F the cigar-holding rest formed of two parts with intervening space 0 at the banding position.

D is the operating shaft having suitable cams mounted thereon for operating the various parts, as heretofore practised.

G indicates a swinging glue or gum is applied to one end of the band and a band 6 adhesively taken from the pack and brought down to a position across the cigar C lying upon the rest F, as shown in Fig. 1. a

I indicates the bander axis stud or shaft upon which the hubs of the carriers 1 and 2 are oscillatively mounted, and M indicates the general position of mechanism whereby the cigars are taken to and removed from the band-atiixing position; which mechanism is not shown in detail since it forms part of my prior application.

All of the above enumerated parts in the general structure of a banding machine, as well as other parts not herein shown but necessary for a complete operating machine, may be constructedfor operating as heretofore employed, or in any approved suitable manner; since my present invention relates member whereby to a peculiar lapper means, and the combination of the same with co-acting elements described and expressed in the subjoined claims.

The numerals 10 and 12 indicate the lapper-carrier arms or levers which are fulcrumed transversely upon the oscillata-ble hubs 1 and 2, mounted upon the shaft or stud I the axis of which is in approximate endwise alinement with the axis of a cigar C lying upon the supportingrest F.. An oscillative action and a tilting action is independently imparted to-the respective carriers by suitable means (not shown) for causing the front ends of the carrier arms to move in paths indicated by the dotted lines on Figs. 2 and 4:. V

5 and 6 indicate the endwise acting lapper-blades the heads of which are journaled upon the cylindrical ends of the carrier arms 10 and 12. The overlaying lapper 6 is substantially the same as shownin a prior application. It consists of a slightly curvedblade having a backwardly inclined end, and provided with a tension spring 16 strained between a lug on its head and a lug on the carrier arm. 12, and adapted for normally pressing the lower end of the lapper toward the cigar.

According to my present invention pro vide, in combination with the undertucking lapper 5, a tensioned cord or flexible element 15 that has a running connection with the lapper-blade, but is extraneously retained at its respective ends and maintained in proper relation to the lapper While said lapper is in operation, the lapper and cordbeing combined and operated in such manner that the lapper or tucker member tucks the first end of the band under the a preaching opposite end of the band; but t e cord acts to temporarily hold the band in place as the lapper recedes from its advanced position.

In the preferred construction the bearinghead 3 of the lapper 5 is extended rearward so that the upper front corner of the lapperblade can be cut away for an extent about one half the width of the blade,'more or less, leaving the working end or lower part of the lapper the full desired width, and with an offset or shoulder 4 at about midway on the side of the lapper body, as shown in Figs. 4 to 11 inclusive. A notch or guideway 7 is formed at or near the contacting end of the lapper-blade, through which the cord 15 passes in the manner shown. A small sheave or anti-frictional roller 9 is preferably mounted within the notch or guide-way (see Figs. 7 and 8) about which the cord is drawn; but said roller can in any instance be omitted if desired, and the cord permitted to run against the end of the recess or eye, as in Fig. 5, or a hardened bearing piece may be inset therein in lieu of the sheave. One end of the cord 15 is connected with a holding device 17 attached to the overhead bar E, or to any equivalent supporter above the band-applying position, and from thence the cord extends down and along the face of the lapper-blade, through the guide-way 7 at the end thereof, thence upward at a convenient inclination, and is joined to a spring or yieldable take up device 18 whereby a sufficient tension is maintained to keep the cord 15 strained to an active degree. The end of the spring or take-up 18 is secured to any suitable support, as bar E indicated on Fig. 1, and means combined therewith, as the screw-threaded rod 19 and nut 20, for regulating the amount of tension on the cord as desired.

In some instances the end of the cord 15 may be connected to the grip device 13 which primarily clamps the band in position;. as illustrated in Fig. 12, the attachment being best made therewith by a readily detachable interlocking end connection, as at 88. When the cord is thus attached to the grip-device the take-up device or spring 18 would be located on the part M instead of the bar E.

The cord or element 15 may be made of any suitable flexible materiahsuch as a fibrous thread or twine silk, cotton, hemp or other fiber; a small metallic chain, or gut-string of suitable size and prepared by any suitable treatment, may be used. The manner of joining the ends of the cord to the parts with which the same are connected is preferably by suitably interlocking knobs and recesses 8, or such means that the cord can be readily attached or detached at will.

The carrier 10 and head of the lapper 5 are provided with pins or lugs 21 and 22 that engage for limiting the swing of the lapper in either direction. A spring similar to spring 16 can, in some instances, be combinedwith the tucking lapper as heretofore employed, but preferably such spring is omitted as the cord 15 acts to control the end of the lapper in relation to the band.

The cord 15 is arranged in a plane transverse to the axis of the cigar and approximately central to the lapper-blade, and the ends of the cord are held at positions that are relatively respectively forward of and back of the lapper blade, so that the notch or recess 7 naturally alines with the position of the cord and would, if moving from a position above the location thereof, normally take the cord into the recess 7 as the lapper descends, so that the resultant action would be practically the same whether the cord is secured at a osition relatively lower than the highest e evation of the lapper, or at such height as to be relatively above the position of the lapper when elevated, as shown in Fig. 1.

The end of the cord 15 being held at the mamas position 17, and its opposite end connected with a resilient take-up or spring 18, the lapper-blade 5 has running connection With the cord, which is maintained taut, to a greater or less degree, at all positions whether it is elevated, as indicated by dotted lines 15 on Fig. 1, or depressed to positions indicated by full lines in Fig. 1, or as in Fig. 2.

The cord tends to draw the lapper-blade backward when at elevated position, .but acts to press the lapper against the band when the lapper is passing around the cigar. The head of the lapper and carrier can swing past the cord so that the cord draws across the shoulder 4, as indicated in Fig. 3,

The cords 15 can be prepared of proper lengths and their end attaching means, at 8, so made that a cord can be instantly removed from the machine and replaced Without loss of time, and by any operator.

The extremity of the lapper-blade 5 projects beyond the cord 15, so that the cigarband is laid smooth and the tucking effected by contact of the metal of the lapper-blade while the cord or flexible element 15 follows it as a tensioned binder to keep the laid portion of the band close against the surface of the cigar C, whether the latter is small, soft-rolled and unsymmetrical in shape, or of full round contour. Then while the lapper is retracted the cord, by reason of the tension thereon, prevents any easing back of the band as the lapper recedes and before the opposite end of the band is overclosed thereon and firmly glued to the under-tucked end.

By the invention described great efliciency is attained in the close and accurate affixment of the bands; and especially is this result noticeable in the instances of small, soft-rolled or. irregular formed cigars.

In some instances the guide-way: or notch 7 in the lapper may be provided with projections or horns 23 formed on the back of the blade at each side of the notch, as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10, to afford greater security against liability of the cord becoming displaced from the notch; or again, if desired the guide-way may be formed as an eye 7* through the end of the blade, as indicated in Fig. 11, and the cord threaded through said eye.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a mechanism for the purpose specitied, the combination as described, of the cigar-supporting rest, right and left oscillating lapper-carriers, lapper-blades hingingly supported on said carriers, one of said lapper-blades having a guide-Way at the end thereof, a grip-member above said rest, a tension-cord passing around said lapper within said guide-Way, said cord having one end attached to a support above said rest,

a spring take-up device to which the other end of the cord is connected, and means for operating said lapper-carriers.

2. A band-applying mechanism, comprising in combination, means for supporting a cigar or the like, a band supply holder, a moving picker, means adapted for gumming one end of a band and then presenting said band across the cigar in position to be clasped about the body thereof, a lappercarrier axially coincident with and oscillatable in a circular are about the center of the supported cigar, an under-tucking lapper mounted upon said lapper-carrier and having its thin end that acts against the surface of the band provided with a guide-way or recess therein, a cord disposed in approximate alinement with the plane of the lapper movement, and slidably engaged in said guide-way or recess, means for retaining the ends of said cord above and approximately in line with the cigar-band, and means for regulating the tension of said cord.

3. A band-applying means, including a tucking lapper having an end surface that acts against the surface of the band, a cord for temporarily holding the laid portion of the band close to the cigar as the lapper recedes, and meansfor operating said lapper and for controlling said cord.

4. In a band-applying mechanism, an oscillatable under-tucking lapper bifurcated at its Working end and having contact surface on the furcate members that slide against the band for passing the end thereof about the cigar, and a flexible cord eX- tending through the space between said furcate members back of said contact surface, the ends of said cord being detachably connected with supports independent of said lapper at back and front of the same, and means for affording a yielding resilient action of the rearwardly extending portion of said cord.

5. In a cigar-banding machine, a bandlapping means comprising a lapper-blade pivotally supported at its head and having a guide-way or notch inits working end; in combination With a cord or flexible member arranged in a plane approximately transverse to the cigar, and having its ends respectively supported at positions relatively forward of and back of the lapper, the intermediate portion of said cord adapted to be engaged by said guiding notch and'carried against the cigar-band as it is laid by said lapper-blade, means for exerting tension on said cord, and means for operating said lapper. I

6. A band-lapper device conslsting of an elongated endwise-acting blade, its upper end adapted for pivotal connection with a carrier, a portion of its upper part cut away, and having a guide shea've arranged 1n 9.

recess at its contacting end; in combination with a cord or flexible element passing around said sheave, one end of said cord attached to a support above the front of the lapper, its other end attached to an automatically retractable yielding take-up means at a position rearward from said blade, for the purpose set forth.

7. In a cigar-banding mechanism, a bandlapping means comprising a lapper-blade pivotally supported at its head and having a portion of its body cut away, said blade provided with a guide-notch in its contacting end, a sheave or roll mounted within said guide-notch, an oscillatable carrier whereon said lapper-blade is pivotally mounted, and a tensioned cord positioned lengthwise of the lapper-blade and having one end secured at a fixed position above the lapper, thence extending to and outward about said sheave, and thence outwardly upward at the back of the lapper-blade, and having its end connected with a spring-actuated take-up.

8. In a cigar-banding device, the combination with a cigar-supporting means, an under-tucking member of the character described, supported upon a carrier that is movable toward and from the cigar support in a direction approximately radial to the axis thereof, and oscillative in a circular arc circumferentially of the cigar, a flexible element extending from a fixed support above the position of the cigar and passing down along the face and backwardly through an opening or guiding recess in the end of said under-tucking member to a point of attachment some distance backward and upward from said member, a yieldable resilient take-up device connected with said I flexible element for maintaining endwise tension, and a take-up adjusting means for regulating the amount of tension, substantially as set forth.

9. In band-applying mechanism, in combination with means for supporting a cigar or the like, means for gumming and presenting a band to be clasped about the same, and a carrier-arm oscillatable in a circular are about an axis approximately in line with the center of said cigar-supporting means; of an under-tucking lapper-device having an offset head journaled upon the end of the carrier-arm, and having its outer part cut away forming a shoulder at mid-length of the lapper, a guide-way recess formed in the end of the lapper-device in line with said shoulder and a tension cord passing around said lapper-device and having its ends attached to independent supports at either side of the lapper and in such relation to said shoulder that the head of the lapper can move past the cord and permit the latter to bear upon said shoulder.

10. A band-applying means, including an undertucking lapper blade having its wedgelike tapered end adapted for acting directly against the surface of the unattached .band, and a cord for temporarily holding the first laid portion of the band close against the cigar without obstructing the direct contact of the lapper blade with said band, means for oscillatively operating said lapper, and means for controlling said cord.

Vitness my hand this 12th day of Febru- FRANK 0-. WOODLAND. Witnesses:

CHAS. H. BURLEIGH, CHAS. S. PUTNAM.

ary, 1914. 

